Chapter 31

After lunch, I overhear Alessandro telling the others he has a meeting with Marco and Enzo at Sinners’ Paradise and that he won’t be back until late. I wait for him to leave then find Maddox and Ricky both chilling on the couch. I stand in front of them, hands on hips, feeling a new sense of power since my encounter with Ricky yesterday. So, I decide now is as good a time as any to use my newfound advantage and get something I want.

“You’re curious about ways you can earn back my trust? Get that big bad boss of yours to let me see my friend from the diner. He promised me I could after the engagement party, but we all know it hasn’t happened.”

Ricky’s eyes perk up in excitement, knowing I’m continuing on our conversation from the dress store. I think he assumed when we got home, I would go easy on him and let him have his way with me, but the ice queen was back. He has to know I’m stronger than that. And it’s time for them to give a little if they want me to play nice with them .

Maddox looks me over like I’ve lost my mind, his eyes raking over the cute summer dress I’ve chosen to wear today. “You know we can’t do that, temptress.”

“Why the fuck not?” Ricky chimes in for me. One blow job and the threat of withholding my pussy has him suddenly siding with me. My lips twitch into a sassy smile, and he smirks back at me reading my mind.

“It’s dangerous,” Maddox grumbles, shooting his brother a fierce look for support.

I take a seat on the coffee table right in front of them, both of them watching my every move. I need to convince them this is a good idea, because right now I’m running out of options, but if I can talk to Dani, she might be able to help me get out of here before I’m married off to Alessandro. I don’t know how, all I know is I have to try.

“Come on, how dangerous could it be.” I roll my eyes for emphasis. “I worked there for six months before you lot got wind of it. No one goes to that place. Besides, I’ll have you two big strong dudes with me for protection,” I add, trying to sweeten the deal by appealing to their already overinflated egos.

Ricky’s hand comes to my bare thigh, skating up my freshly shaved skin, excitement in his piercing blue eyes. “What do you think, Maddox? Surely, she can visit her friend.” His touch glides up my leg, and in one swift motion, he pulls me from the table and onto his lap, hunger burning in his expression.

With a playful glint in his eyes, Maddox observes the two of us, and I know he’s seriously considering it. “Alex won’t like it,” he grumbles.

Ricky affectionately nuzzles his head against my neck and softly plants kisses along my shoulder. “We will stay by her side.”

I smile sweetly, using what mother nature gave me to sway him. Ricky is already on board. I can feel his boner digging into my lady bits through the fabric of his pants. “Yeah. He said I can leave the house as long as one of you is with me. And you can both come. That way, I will be extra safe.” I lock eyes with Maddox. He’s been the first one to help me with everything else up until now. He has a major soft spot for me. “Please. I know she must be worried. I just want to see her quickly and let her know I’m still alive.”

“We could go for an early breakfast in the morning,” Ricky suggests, moving my legs so they spread apart, and his hand comes to the inside of my thigh, running all the way up to where my panties start. I suck in a breath.

Maddox swallows, and I know I have him. He desires me as strongly as Ricky does. The silent treatment I’ve been giving him seems to be having an impact, as his tough exterior is starting to soften.

“Yeah. Best coffee this side of Louisiana,” I agree with Ricky before letting him claim my mouth. It’s not, I know they have tasted it, but I’ll say or do just about anything to be able to see my friend.

Maddox takes my hand, pulling me from Ricky’s lap to stand with him. “Is she working now?”

“Yes,” I say with a flutter of excitement.

“This ice queen shit is done, and you will forgive us, knowing that we both only ever had your best interests at heart.” His eyebrow rises while he waits for my response.

I eye him, not so ready to just give up my anger toward them, but even I know these two were just following orders, and I can see how much they want to protect me. They probably thought they were doing the right thing to keep me safe. “As long as you both swear to me there will be no more secrets.”

“No more secrets,” he agrees. I glance back at Ricky.

“Everything we do is all for you, baby doll. But I won’t keep shit from you anymore.” He stands, closing the gap between us and sandwiching me between him and his brother, his lips coming to mine. “We go see this friend, then you’re coming to bed with the two of us. We have a lot of lost time to make up for.”

Half an hour later the three of us walk through the front door of the diner. Ricky slips his hand into mine, and Maddox hovers close by. When I don’t immediately see Dani, we take a seat at a booth that looks out over the street. It’s so strange being back in this place with these guys. When I left here after seeing them that day, I could never have imagined where I would end up.

A girl I don’t recognize rollers over to take our order. “Hey, guys, what can I get for ya?” she asks flirtatiously. Yeah, she looks like the kind of girl Mark would hire. Flirty, cute and willing to put up with the handsy customers. “Today’s special is a peach cobbler. It’s to die for.” She winks in Ricky’s direction, and I feel a strange ping of jealousy.

“Do you want some pie, baby doll?” he asks, playfully wrapping his arm around me, giving me the warm and fuzzies, because the last thing I expected was him to make it obvious he wasn’t available. But that’s what his body language is doing.

“Sure. And a strawberry milkshake.” I smile at the girl.

She turns her attention toward Maddox, leaning over the table. “Boys, what will it be?”

“I’m good,” mutters Maddox, still scanning the place like he’s scoping it out, expecting one of the D’Amicos to materialize and blow our heads off.

“Milkshakes sound like a perfect idea. I’ll have vanilla,” Ricky agrees.

She jots down our orders. “Anything else, sweetie?”

“Yeah, is Dani working today?” I ask, really hoping she is.

“Sure is.” She smiles sweetly. “In back with Mark. Want me to grab her when she’s done? ”

“That would be great. Tell her Lana’s here to see her, thanks.”

“Sure thing.” She rolls her way back to the kitchen.

I smirk at Ricky. “Vanilla?”

“What’s wrong with vanilla?” He smiles playfully.

“Nothing, I suppose I didn’t expect you to have such a dull taste preference.”

He pulls me onto his lap, his teeth nipping at my earlobe. “You know there’s nothing boring about me, baby doll.”

I can’t help but laugh. Maddox shoots him a warning look, but it doesn’t stop him from skating his hand up my thigh. I know if we weren’t all so strung out with the threat hanging over our head, he would be up for just about anything right here in the booth.

Maddox throws us a warning look. “Can you two save the PDA until we get home?”

“You’re just pissed she’s sitting with me,” Ricky mumbles as he pulls me in for a kiss. Sometimes you can really tell they grew up together, the way they bicker.

Dani approaches our table, my pie and the milkshakes in her hands. “Hey, girl, I thought you took off. When Sassy said I had a visitor by the name of Lana, I was like, no way . But here you are looking all happy and shit.”

“I didn’t exactly take off. Is Mark pissed?”

She looks over at the guys, her eyes filled with curiosity. “He’s over it. I went by your place. All your shit was gone.” She drops her head closer to me and lowers her voice. “What the fuck, girl?”

“I…” Ricky wraps his arm around my front, trying to get me to stay on his lap, but I shove it off. I need to talk to my friend without these guys listening in. I hop up from the booth and take her hand, dragging her away from the table .

“That’s far enough, temptress,” Maddox warns. I flip him the bird but don’t go any farther, knowing being here is already pushing my luck.

“He’s bossy.” She laughs, still looking them both over with curiosity.

“You have no idea!”

“Well, shit,” she squeals, grabbing my hand and pulling it right up to her face so she can inspect the ring sitting on my left hand. “Someone’s been busy. Which one of these lucky bastards locked you down?”

I can sense the heat spreading from my face. I didn’t want to cause a scene, and there is no way of saying this without it coming out weird. “Neither. I’m marrying their brother.”

She glances back at the booth where the two brothers are observing us. Ricky has a smirk on his face, as if he thinks this is all a fun game. Maddox’s expression turns into a scowl; he’s not having as much fun, and I know I’m running out of time before he puts a stop to my little catch-up. “Ahh, so they’re available?” She smiles cheekily at them.

“Not exactly,” I mutter, feeling surprisingly jealous of her attempt to flirt with them.

Her eyes rake over me. “Damn, girl, you’ve been busy since you took off.”

“Ha, I guess.” I try to laugh it off. What else can I do? This is weirder than I thought it was going to be.

“So, you’re dating them and marrying their brother. How the hell do I get myself into one of these cozy little situations?” She drops her head closer to me. “Are you fucking them all?” she whispers so only I can hear.

“I didn’t come here to talk about them,” I mutter, frustrated. “I want to check on you. Are you okay? ”

“Yeah, girl, I’m great. Mark just gave me a hundred-dollar tip to suck his junk.” She smiles, proud of herself.

I close my eyes, massaging my temples. God help me, I love this girl, but she can do so much better. “Dani,” I utter her name with disappointment.

She pouts. “Whatever, quickest money I ever made. He blew in like a minute.” She does a little dance. “I’m going out tonight.” She reaches out and takes hold of my shoulders like she’s just thought of the best idea ever. “Oh, my God, you should come. Me and a few of the girls are heading to Sinners’ Paradise. It’s the hottest place around. You have to come.”

I take a quick look over my shoulder at the boys. Their family’s casino is the last place I want to go, but I would kill to talk to her properly without them listening to every word. Ricky joins us, his hands landing on my waist as he pulls me into his chest and plants a kiss to my cheek. “Wouldn’t miss it. Would we, baby doll?”

“Oh my God, girl, this is going to slay. I need your new number so we can meet up.”

“Ah…” How do I tell her I don’t have a phone because these assholes won’t let me have one?

“Come to the VIP section. We’ll put your name on the door, and Lana here can save you a seat at our table.”

She looks him over, confused, then realization seems to dawn on her. “Fuck off. You’re them, aren’t you? The Moretti brothers?”

“See you at the casino, Dani,” Ricky says as he takes my hand, implying it’s time to leave. But I haven’t even had my pie and milkshake yet.

Maddox grabs my drink and pie. “Taking these to go,” he tells Dani, a deathly look on his face that has her nodding along, agreeing with him, even though they’re not in takeout containers .

“See you tonight, girl,” she says more quietly, and I know she’s losing her mind, wondering how little old me is involved with the infamous Moretti brothers. I shoot her a look that I’m hoping tells her I’ll fill her in tonight, then Ricky forcefully escorts me out the door.

“Classy chick,” Maddox mutters when we’re safely back in his car. He hands me my food, and I let out a massive sigh. That wasn’t quite how I wanted this afternoon to go.

“Yeah, well, she was all I had when you assholes stole my life away. She’s a good person once you get to know her.” I bite into my pie, needing food to squash the anxiety now churning in my stomach. Sassy was right, it’s to die for. “How are you guys going to get Alessandro to agree to me going to the casino tonight?”

“We were going anyway. We have a little business to do.”

Confusion sweeps over me. First I’m hearing about it. “Oh. I thought…”

“That we were going home to fuck. Sorry, baby doll, boss’s orders. But don’t worry, we’ll make it up to you later.”

The rest of the way home, I drink my milkshake, staring out the window, wondering what business it could be they have to sort out tonight at the casino. I pray I won’t have to see Enzo Moretti. I hate that man, and if I didn’t need to see Dani so badly, I would be begging to stay in the safety of the house. But there is no way I’m going through with this wedding, and Dani just might be my only way out of it.